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News | March 3, 2015

Navy SSP conducts two successful Trident II launches

U.S. Strategic Command Public Affairs

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. – The U.S. Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) conducted two successful test flights of a Trident II D5 Missile, Feb. 22, 2015, under operationally representative conditions to obtain valid reliability, accuracy and performance factors for use by the Commander, U.S. Strategic Command and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The Navy launched the unarmed test missiles as part of a Follow-on Commander Evaluation Test (FCET) from an Ohio Class SSBN in the Pacific Missile range. These test flights mark the 155th successful test flight of the Trident II (D5) missile conducted by SSP since 1989.

“A credible, effective nuclear deterrent is essential to our national security and the security of U.S. allies and friends,” said Adm. Cecil D. Haney, U.S. Strategic Command commander. “Strategic weapons tests such as these are a visible demonstration for assuring our allies and deterring our adversaries that our nation’s strategic triad is safe, secure and effective.”

First deployed in 1990, the D5 missile currently is aboard US Navy Ohio-class submarines. The D5 missile is undergoing a life extension program to maintain the weapon system through 2040. The three-stage, solid-propellant, inertial-guided ballistic missile can travel a nominal range of 4,000 nautical miles and carries multiple independently targeted reentry vehicles.

U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Programs is responsible for all aspects of the Navy’s Trident II (D5) missile system and has overseen the Fleet Ballistic Missile program for more than 59 years, making it the Navy’s oldest program of record. 

The U.S. Navy supports U.S. Strategic Command's strategic deterrence missions by operating and maintaining Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines to deter regional and strategic threats. The triad, the U.S. strategic nuclear forces of ICBMs, bombers, and ballistic missile submarines, remains the primary deterrent of nuclear attacks against the U.S., our allies, and partners.